The well-traveled point guard (Greece, Russia, Houston) was the key piece in the Chris Paul trade, a veteran who plays with a grittiness the Clippers believe they lacked in the past.

Sam Dekker, F, 6-9, 230, Wisconsin, 23

Another part of the package of players the Clippers received from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Paul, and another reason to believe this is a deeper and more versatile team.

Jawun Evans (R), G, 6-0, 190, Oklahoma State, 21

Acquired for cash considerations from the Philadelphia 76ers, who selected him in the second round in June (39th overall), a young player who took giant strides during training camp.

Danilo Gallinari, F, 6-10, 225, Italy, 29

The Clippers lacked perimeter shooters from the wings, so they acquired Gallinari from the Denver Nuggets in order to help fill that void and create more scoring depth.

Blake Griffin, F, 6-10, 251, Oklahoma, 28

Griffin missed most of the summer after undergoing toe surgery and he returned to the team rested and ready to go, and continuing to work on the 3-point shot he started blending in last season.

Montrezl Harrell, F, 6-8, 240, Louisville, 23

Harrell came to the Clippers from the Rockets in the Paul deal over the summer, another big body who gives the roster a new look and a good deal more depth in the frontcourt.

Brice Johnson, F, 6-10, 230, North Carolina, 23

Played just three games last season for the Clippers, spending most of it in the developmental league after suffering an acute herniated disk in his back during an exhibition game.

Wesley Johnson, F, 6-7, 215, Syracuse, 30

Spent the summer working on his confidence and he returned to the team looking like a different player, averaging 10.6 points on 64.5 percent shooting (20 for 31) in five exhibitions

DeAndre Jordan, C, 6-11, 265, Texas A&M, 29

Lob City ran through him and Griffin with Paul running the show for six seasons, but there’s no reason to believe it’s dead now that Paul is a Rocket. It’s just been revamped with new faces making the passes.

Willie Reed, F/C, 6-11, 245, St. Louis, 27

Signed as a free agent to give the Clippers depth beyond Griffin and Jordan, something the team lacked in the past but appears to have in abundance after an extremely busy offseason.

Austin Rivers, G, 6-4, 200, Duke, 25

Mononucleosis and a strained glute muscle conspired to sideline Rivers for most of training of the preseason, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t be sound sooner rather than later.

Milos Teodosic, G, 6-5, 196, Serbia, 30

Teodosic was once known as the best player not playing in the NBA, but he finally left Europe and the Clippers nabbed him this summer with an assist from former teammate Beverley.

Sindarius Thornwell (R), G, 6-5, 215, South Carolina, 22

The Clippers traded for the versatile guard after the Milwaukee Bucks drafted him in the second round (48th overall), and he made the most of his NBA training camp debut.

C.J. Williams, F, 6-5, 230, North Carolina State, 27

Williams had his contract converted to a two-way deal, so it’s expected that he will play some with the Clippers but probably more with their new G-League team in Ontario.

Lou Williams, G, 6-1, 175, South Gwinnett (Ga.) High School, 30

Williams is one more part of the Paul trade, a veteran who is expected to play the role of sixth man formally occupied by the ageless Jamal Crawford, who is now working his magic with Minnesota.

Jamil Wilson, F, 6-7, 229, Marquette, 26

Signed a two-way contract during the offseason and is expected to play with the Clippers’ G-League team in Ontario, and if needed he’s only a short drive away (traffic permitting).

Elliott Teaford covers the Clippers and the NBA for the Southern California News Group. He has written about hockey for the past five years and is looking forward to thawing out after so many days and nights sitting in frozen rinks. He also covered the Lakers for five seasons, including their back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and '10. He once made a jump shot over future Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton during a pickup game in 1980 at Cypress College.

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